Sunshine Coast Council has committed to protect over 500 hectares of land with known koala habitat under a state-wide conservation program.
Council has entered into a Conservation Agreement with the state government to protect and manage 15 council-owned reserves as Nature Refuges.
The reserves are located from Glass House Mountains to Pomona and were gazetted by the state government as part of its Koala Nature Refuge program.
A majority of these reserves have been purchased over time through the Coast’s Environment Levy Program for their environmental values.
Environment Portfolio Councillor Tony Wellington said this commitment helps protect habitat for significant plant and animal species and will help preserve environmentally valuable land in perpetuity.
“Protecting the region’s natural habitat areas is one of the key actions identified in the Sunshine Coast Biodiversity Strategy 2012 – 2020,” he said.
“This recent gazettal marks a major milestone for the ongoing management and protection of our environment.
“The 15 reserves are home to numerous endangered, vulnerable or near threatened plants and animals, and all the reserves provide suitable habitat for koalas.
“Four of the new refuges are also adjacent to national parks or state forests, providing even greater conservation outcomes.”
These properties are now eligible to apply for funding assistance for on-ground management through the state government’s Nature Assist program.
Council will continue to work with the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection to identify suitable reserves to nominate for Nature Refuge protection.
The 15 new nature refuges include: